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HMS Brilliant (H84)
Encyclopedia
HMS Brilliant was a built for the Royal Navy
that saw service during the Second World War
.
From 1931 to 1938, she served in the Mediterranean. At the outbreak of war, Brilliant was deployed with the 19th Destroyer Flotilla at Dover and took part in Channel convoy
protection and escorting minelaying operations. On 10 May 1940, she took part in Operation XD, the destruction of Dutch port facilities and the evacuation allied personnel. On 15 May she collided with en route for the Hook of Holland. After repairs she was again damaged this time by dive bomber
s on 25 July, returning to port by jettisoning her aft guns.
In May 1941, she took part in Operation Splice, the delivery of fighters to Malta
. From there, she joined HMS London
in the hunt for German supply ships in the Atlantic. They intercepted the Esso Hamburg and Egerland
which were both scuttled by their crews. Operating from Freetown
, Brilliant rescued 321 personnel from the boats of HMT Oronsay
which was torpedoed by an Italian submarine on 9 October 1942. Thereafter, she joined Force H
for Operation Torch
, the invasion of North Africa. She sank the Vichy French minesweeper
off Oran
on 8 November.
After conversion for anti-submarine work, she joined the 13th Destroyer Flotilla in Gibraltar
in July 1943. On 24 December 1944 Brilliant was escorting the transport ship when the it was struck by a torpedo
from , 5½ nautical miles off Cherbourg. Brilliant was able to rescue about 500 survivors from the damaged troopship as she lay at anchor, but due to various communication failures, no other vessels reached her before she sank and 764 died. On 7 June 1945, Brilliant escorted King George VI on board as he visited the Channel Islands
. She escorted surrendered U-boats to Scotland in Operation Deadlight
before being paid-off into reserve in November 1945.
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
that saw service during the Second World War
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
From 1931 to 1938, she served in the Mediterranean. At the outbreak of war, Brilliant was deployed with the 19th Destroyer Flotilla at Dover and took part in Channel convoy
Convoy
A convoy is a group of vehicles, typically motor vehicles or ships, traveling together for mutual support and protection. Often, a convoy is organized with armed defensive support, though it may also be used in a non-military sense, for example when driving through remote areas.-Age of Sail:Naval...
protection and escorting minelaying operations. On 10 May 1940, she took part in Operation XD, the destruction of Dutch port facilities and the evacuation allied personnel. On 15 May she collided with en route for the Hook of Holland. After repairs she was again damaged this time by dive bomber
Dive bomber
A dive bomber is a bomber aircraft that dives directly at its targets in order to provide greater accuracy for the bomb it drops. Diving towards the target reduces the distance the bomb has to fall, which is the primary factor in determining the accuracy of the drop...
s on 25 July, returning to port by jettisoning her aft guns.
In May 1941, she took part in Operation Splice, the delivery of fighters to Malta
Malta
Malta , officially known as the Republic of Malta , is a Southern European country consisting of an archipelago situated in the centre of the Mediterranean, south of Sicily, east of Tunisia and north of Libya, with Gibraltar to the west and Alexandria to the east.Malta covers just over in...
. From there, she joined HMS London
HMS London (69)
HMS London was a member of the second group of the County class heavy cruiser of the Royal Navy. She and her sisters; Sussex, Shropshire, and Devonshire differed from the earlier group of Counties, , by having a smaller forward superstructure, which was positioned slightly further aft, and next...
in the hunt for German supply ships in the Atlantic. They intercepted the Esso Hamburg and Egerland
Egerland
The Egerland is a historical region in the far north west of Bohemia in the Czech Republic at the border with Germany. It is named after the German name Eger for the city of Cheb and the main river Ohře...
which were both scuttled by their crews. Operating from Freetown
Freetown
Freetown is the capital and largest city of Sierra Leone, a country in West Africa. It is a major port city on the Atlantic Ocean located in the Western Area of the country, and had a city proper population of 772,873 at the 2004 census. The city is the economic, financial, and cultural center of...
, Brilliant rescued 321 personnel from the boats of HMT Oronsay
SS Oronsay (1925)
For other ships called SS Oronsay, see OronsaySS Oronsay was an ocean liner built for the Orient Steam Navigation Company. Her maiden voyage started on 7 February 1925 from London to Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane. She continued on this route until the outbreak of World War II...
which was torpedoed by an Italian submarine on 9 October 1942. Thereafter, she joined Force H
Force H
Force H was a British naval formation during the Second World War. It was formed in 1940 to replace French naval power in the western Mediterranean that had been removed by the French armistice with Nazi Germany....
for Operation Torch
Operation Torch
Operation Torch was the British-American invasion of French North Africa in World War II during the North African Campaign, started on 8 November 1942....
, the invasion of North Africa. She sank the Vichy French minesweeper
Minesweeper (ship)
A minesweeper is a small naval warship designed to counter the threat posed by naval mines. Minesweepers generally detect then neutralize mines in advance of other naval operations.-History:...
off Oran
Oran
Oran is a major city on the northwestern Mediterranean coast of Algeria, and the second largest city of the country.It is the capital of the Oran Province . The city has a population of 759,645 , while the metropolitan area has a population of approximately 1,500,000, making it the second largest...
on 8 November.
After conversion for anti-submarine work, she joined the 13th Destroyer Flotilla in Gibraltar
Gibraltar
Gibraltar is a British overseas territory located on the southern end of the Iberian Peninsula at the entrance of the Mediterranean. A peninsula with an area of , it has a northern border with Andalusia, Spain. The Rock of Gibraltar is the major landmark of the region...
in July 1943. On 24 December 1944 Brilliant was escorting the transport ship when the it was struck by a torpedo
Torpedo
The modern torpedo is a self-propelled missile weapon with an explosive warhead, launched above or below the water surface, propelled underwater towards a target, and designed to detonate either on contact with it or in proximity to it.The term torpedo was originally employed for...
from , 5½ nautical miles off Cherbourg. Brilliant was able to rescue about 500 survivors from the damaged troopship as she lay at anchor, but due to various communication failures, no other vessels reached her before she sank and 764 died. On 7 June 1945, Brilliant escorted King George VI on board as he visited the Channel Islands
Channel Islands
The Channel Islands are an archipelago of British Crown Dependencies in the English Channel, off the French coast of Normandy. They include two separate bailiwicks: the Bailiwick of Guernsey and the Bailiwick of Jersey...
. She escorted surrendered U-boats to Scotland in Operation Deadlight
Operation Deadlight
Operation Deadlight was the code name for the scuttling of U-boats surrendered to the Allies after the defeat of Germany near the end of World War II....
before being paid-off into reserve in November 1945.